Reptile heating pad safety

2/28/2019 (Permalink)

Unfortunately, reptile heating elements are some of most overlooked items that can cause fire or smoke damage to your home. Below we have outlined a few simple steps you can take to make sure your reptiles heating elements do not harm them or your home!

Cage and Heating pad

The glass of the terrarium bottom should be thoroughly cleaned prior to installation. A good all-purpose glass cleaner will do, and a quick wipe with isopropyl alcohol will remove any traces of dirt, grease, or oils that could affect the pad's adhesive over time.

Heat pad installation

The adhesive on the pad itself is exposed by peeling off the back paper covering of the heating pad like a big sticker. Rest one short edge of the pad along the glass and then, using a rolling motion, gently roll the pad onto the glass. Just enough pressure should be used, and care must be taken to not overly bend or crease the pad itself.

Once in place, the pad can be firmly pressed down onto the glass, paying close attention to the corners and around the power cord. An added benefit of installing on an empty tank is the ability to peek through and see where the pad is or is not making good contact.

The last step is to install the included plastic “feet" to the bottom corners of the terrarium. These tiny bumpers attach permanently to the molding of the terrarium and effectively raise it up off the surface it is resting on by ¼" or so. This gap allows for easy exit of the power cord from beneath the terrarium, and also allows excess heat to escape, preventing malfunction or overheating.